Butter-cutter.



' PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.C. P. ROSS.

BUTTER CUTTER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1906.

" attorney? THE NORRIS PE'r ERs cm, WASHINGTON, u c

No. 888,746. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908'.

G. P; ROSS.

BUTTER CUTTER. APPLIOVATIOH FILED JUNE 20,1906.-

3 sums-sun's.

Q/Vime oom I 6 ff gulf/(4w 4% m a flozvuugvs chine in operation.

UNITED sTAT s PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. ROSS, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

BUTTER-CUTTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. Ross, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butter-Cutters, of which the folvention resides in the constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as set forth in the following specification and defined in the appended claims.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention shown with portions of some of the parts broken away. Fig. 2 is front elevation of the same with portions of the cutter frame and its support broken away, and the base and platform shown in section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the means for regulating the set of the cutter relatively to the depth of the body of butter to be cut. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of said means taken on line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in partial section taken on line 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side elevation in partial section taken on lines 66 and 66 of Fig. 2, illustrating the ma- Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sections of the cutter frame and adj acent portions of its support taken on lines 77 and 88 respectively of Fig. 6, the cutter frame being shown in the position at which it normally stands relatively to said support, in producing horizontal cuts, and. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 des ignates a suitable base and 2 indicates a standard which is movable relatively to the base to facilitate placing of the body of butter in position for cutting, as will later be understood, the said standard for this purpose being formed with a foot piece 2 which is on gaged with a pivot 3 secured to the base adj acent the margin thereof.

Mounted on base -1 is a platform 4 consisting of a bottom section, as 5, and a top section 6, the latter of which normally rests Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 20, 1906.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Serial No. 322,646.

upon the former and is removable therefrom. In the construction shown, the section 5 is rotatably engaged with a journal pin 7, secured to base 1 and is provided with a depending annular fiange.5 bearing upon sup porting lugs 1 on the base, while section 6 is provided with depending lugs 6 spaced apart to embrace section 5 and having their inner faces inclined outwardly in a downward direction so that said lugs will grip the bottom section when the top section is in place and thereby connect said sections for simulta neous rotation.

Reference numeral 8 designates a support which is conveniently mounted on upright 2 for vertical movement and carries a cutter,

as 9, consisting of a section of resilientwire mounted on a suitable frame, as 10, connected with a rigid arm 8, of said support,

which projects over platform 4.

The frame 10, as shown, consists of a top bar 11 and depending bars 12 and 12 the latter of which is comparatively thin and normally stands directly over the aXis of the platform. Cutter 9 is conveniently secured to bar 11 adjacent the outer edge of bar 12 and passes across the lower end of the latter to a suitable tension device, as-14, mounted on bar 12, thereby providing vertical and horizontal cutting edges the latter of which is adapted for producing both vertical and horizontal cuts.

Frame 10 is conveniently connected with arm 8 for vertical swinging movement by means of a pivot 14, engaged with said arm and with the bar 11 beyond the vertical portion of cutter 9 and is provided with a handle, as 10 by means of which it can be swung.

In making vertical cuts the resistance offered by the butter to passage of the cutter 9 causes the horizontal portion of the cutter to spring or bend upwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6. Therefore to insure of the'cutter cutting to the proper depth and being freed of this. bend, when arranged for horizontal cutting, I provide for an additional movement of the cutter beyond its normal depth of cut, the said movement being conveniently provided for by a lug 15, secured to the frame, and a spring 16, on arm 8 disposed in the path of said lug. This s ring when engaged by the lug yieldingly hol s the thereby causing the bowed portion of the cutter to cut to a suitable depth so that when the handle is relieved of pressure and the frame 10 returned to its normal lowered position, by action of spring 16, the cutter will be free to assume a straight position for horizontal cutting, as indicated by line 9' in Fig. 6. Suitable means, as for example a clip 17 carried by the cutter frame engages over arm 8 and prevents undue movement of the cutter frame from its normal position and further prevents any lateral play of the cutter frame.

As now considered, support 8 is mounted for sliding movement on a pair of vertically disposed elements 18, 18, the same having lugs 8 through which said elements project, and one of these elements, as 18 is rotatable in those lugs 8 through which it pro'ects, as will be more fully explained in the following.

Reference numeral 19 indicates a vertical series of stops, fixed to upright 2. These stops are equally spaced apart and arranged so as to be successively engaged by a catch 20 on support 8, whereby the cutter on said support can be held. at various predetermined positions above platform 4 to effect the division of the body of butter into layers.

By this construction, if the body of butter is of a proper height, which I will herein refer to as the standard height, the cutter will, by being lowered with the sup ort an equal distance each time, be propery positioned for effecting the horizontal cuts which will divide the body of butter into layers of equal thickness. Other means, as 21, cooperates with this mechanism to effect the division of bodies which are above or below the standard height, into layers of equal thickness, the same determining to what extent the support shall be moved in its successive adjustments toward the platform.

Means 21, conveniently termed a gage, is pivoted adjacent one of its end portions, by a pin 21 to the support 8, whereby it can be swung and adjusted from the horizontal to angular or inclined positions relatively to the direction of movement of the support, and a thumb screw 22, passing through a slot 23 in the gage, and engaging in a suitable screw threaded aperture in the support is provided for securing the gage in its adjusted position.

The catch 20, which consists of a plate of elongated form is slidably supported, to one side of pivot 21, in a bracket 24 carried by the gage, beneath the lower edge of the gage and projects rearwardly thereof for engagement with the stops 19. A lever 25 is provided for releasing the catch, the same being pivoted to the gage and to said catch, and a suitable spring, as 26, resets said lever and catch. At the opposite side of pivot 21 is an indicator, adapted for engagement with the top of the body of butter, consisting of an arm 27 fixed to the gage and provided with a roller 27 which, during rotation of the body of butter, rotates and thereby prevents gouging of the butter, as is apparent. Catch 20 being supported as hereinbefore stated, will obviously move with the gage, and if said catch, after the gage is adjusted so that the indicator 27 engages the top of the body of butter, lies in a horizontal plane, see F i 2, which is its normal position when a body of butter of the standard height is to be operated upon, the respective movements of the support during its several adjustments toward the platform will be uniform. When however, the butter is above or below the standard hei ht, the gage and consequently the catch will be swung out of its horizontal or normal position. For an example see Fig. 3, in which the gage is set so as to effect an adjustment of the support for operation of the cutter on a body of butter which is belowthe standard height.

In operation, the first stop will have contact with the inclined catch at such a point as to insure of the cutter being held sufficiently below that position it would normally occupy for producing its first horizontal out, so as to in producing said out sever a layer in which the major portion of the shortage will be compensated for. The remaining stops being arranged as specified will contact with the catch at spaced apart points, each succeeding stop contacting with the catch at a point closer to the pivot 21 than the preceding one, thereby decreasing the lengths of the successive adjustments of the support. In other words, by this construction, when the body of butter is below or above the standard height, the indicator acting conjointly with the gage determines the position of the cutter for the first cut, and the first layer severed must be of such thickness that the remainder of the body of butter can be equally divided into a predetermined number of layers all of which will correspond in thickness to the first layer.

Reference numeral 28 indicates a handle, pivoted at 28" to a bar 29, pivoted on journal pin 7, and this handle is provided with a pair of lugs 30 which are arranged on opposite sides of the depending flange 5 of the platform so as to grip the same when the handle is swung away from standard 2, thereby causing the platform to move with bar 29 and handle 28, in one direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. Handle 28 is prevented from being swung on its pivot 28'" past its normal position, in the reverse direction by means of a depending lug 31 which engages the side edge of bar 29. Therefore said handle and bar 29 can be returned to their normal positions without effecting a return movement of the platform, the lugs 30 riding freely over flange 5.

The operation of the mechanism thus far described, is as follows, the support 8 being thus compensated for.

elevated and standard 2 swung outwardly on its pivot 3, platform-section 6, on which the butter is preferably first placed, is liftedand placed on platform-section 5 with the inclined faces of its lugs 6 in firm engagement with the edge thereof. The cutter frame is then swung upwardly and the standard moved back to its normal position and secured by means of a catch, as 32. The cut ter frame is now swung downward causing cutter 9 to produce a vertical cut in the butter, as heretofore set forth, and the platform given a complete revolution by operating handle 28 back and forth, whereby the cutter 9 will completely sever the top layer from the body of butter. The cutter frame isthen elevated, the cutter being withdrawn through the vertical cut previously made by it. The top layer is now ready to be divided into blocks and this is accomplished by intermittently rotating the platform in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1), the degree of such rotation being controlled by mechanism to be hereinafter referred to, and after each movement of the platform, swinging the cutter down into the butter to produce a vertical out which intersects the horizontal cut, and then up again to its normal position. After the top layer has been divided and the blocks removed, support 8 is lowered until catch 20 en ages on the next stop. The second layer of butter is passed through a similar dividing operation. This operation is continued with respect to the remaining layers and when the bottom layer alone remains to be divided, catch 20 is disengaged from the last sto 19 and the support lowered until one of its lhgs 8 engages a lug 33 on the lower portion of the upright, whereupon the cutter will be positioned for cutting to the platform.

The mechanism for controlling the movement of the handle 28, whereby the width of the block of butter to be severed is determined, will now be described. Reference numeral 34 indicates an arm arranged to one side of the body of butter and operatively connected to handle 28 so as to be moved thereby, to and from the body of butter, said arm when moved into engagement with the body of butter, causing a termination in the movement of the handle. Thus, when operating upon a tapered body of butter as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 6, the movement of the handle is restricted more upon each lowering operation of support 8, and the gradual increase of the length of the blocks Further, it will be observed that by arranging arm 34 as specified, compensation is made equally as well when bodies of irregular form are operated upon, as for example, bodies having portions of their sides lying eccentric to the axis of rotation. As now considered, arm 34 is fixed to a bracket 35 which is supported by lugs 35 on element 18, for both sliding and r0- tary movements independently of said element. At its upper end portion bracket 35 is provided with an outwardly projecting graduated plate or dial, as 36, to which a pointer 37 is pivoted at 37. This pointer is formed with an eccentric slot receiving a pin 38 on an arm 39, arranged to slide on element 18, but to rotate only in unison with the same. The outer end portion of the pointer is bent to approximately U-shape and embraces the edge of the dial and a clamping screw 40 is arranged in said U-shaped end portion to cause the same to clamp the dial and thereby hold the bracket to movement with element 18. This mechanism to be referred to as the set mechanism, is employed to set arm 34 properly accordingly to the weight of the body of butter to be operated upon. To adjust arm 34, set screw 40 is adjusted to release the pointer from the dial, then while holding arm 39 against-movement, the pointer is swung to its proper position, thereby setting arm 34.

Reference numeral 41 indicates an indicator arm, fulcrumed on the journal pin 7 and having its outer end provided with a pin or indicator 41 which limits the throw of the handle in one direction. A stationary pin or indicator '42 limits the throw of the handle in the other direction. In connection with these indicators 41 and 42, I provide an intermediate indicator arm 43 which is swingingly mounted on pin 7 and like said first arm 41, carries an indicator 43, but the indicator in this instance does not project upwardly as far as the two first mentioned ones, it being intended that the handle will normally pass freely thereover.

Reference numerals 44 and 45 indicate links pivotally connected at their inner ends and having their pivot extended and riding in a slot 46 in the arm 43. These links have their outer ends pivoted to indicators 41 and 42 respectively; by reason of which construction, the links being of equal length, and one having a fixed pivot, the intermediate arm will be moved one half the distance of arm 41 and will always retain a position central with respect to indicators 41 and 42.

Reference numeral 46 indicates a catch slidable on arm 29 and provided with a depending member 47 inthe form of a lug adapted for engagement with indicator 43, and having at one side a rojection 48, formed with a cam or inclined ace 48, adapted for engagement with the fixed stop. By

providing this catch, blocks one half the size of those which would be out if arm 29 was given a swing to the extreme limit of its movement, can be out. Thus, assuming that the platform has just been rotated and arm 29 therefore adjacent stop 42, said arm is moved away from stop 42 and catch 46 slid outwardly by the operator who operates the same through the medium of a suitable handle, as 49. Lug 47 will then be arranged so as to engage the intermediate indicator and therefore limit the arm to one half of its normal movement. The catch is automatically reset to its normal position by the inclined face 48 of its projection 48 striking the fixed indicator 42.

Reference numeral 50 indicates a member, consisting of a rod slidably supported in lugs 50 and having a link connection with a crank arm 51 on the lower end of element 18, and said member has secured thereto a clutch device 52, which has a swingable clutch member 52, loosely receiving a bar 53, fixed to the base of the ap )aratus.

Reference numera 54 indicates a member carried by arm 41 as illustrated in Fig. 9 and adapted to engage the clutch member 52 and move the clutch device bodily. \Vhen the movement of the clutch device is unre sisted, spring 55 will prevent swinging of the clutch member and therefore, member 50 will be moved and arm 34 advanced toward the butter, and when it strikes the same, further movement of the handle will cause the clutch member to swing against the tension of spring 55 and clutch the fixed bar 53, thereby relieving the arm 34 of any strain which might be caused by the operator using undue force in the swinging of the handle.

As now considered, handle 28 is formed in two sections, the outer of which can be swung up out of the way when desired.

' When the handle is moved so as to effect rotation of the platform, a catch, as 56, carried by arm 29 engages the clutch device and causes it to move therewith, thereby effecting the return of arm 34 to its normal position.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A butter cutter comprising means for supporting a body of butter for movement, a cutter for producing equally spaced horizon tal cuts in said body adjustable to and from said means, an indicator related to said body for gaging the height thereof, and adjustable means to determine the set of said cutter for producing said cuts associated with said indicator.

2. A butter cutter comprising a means for supporting a body of butter for movement, a cutter adjustable toward said means, means to secure said cutter for horizontal cutting at different elevations above said first means, adjustable means connected to said last means and related to the body of butter so as to determine the length of the vertical ad justments of the cutter relatively to bodies of butter of different heights, whereby bodies of butter which vary in height can be divided into layers, all the layers of a body being of equal thickness.

3. A butter cutter comprising a means for supporting a body of butter, a standard provided with stops, means adjustably supported on said standard for movement toward and from said first means, a cutter on said last means, an adjustable member on said last means, a catch on said adjustable member related to said stops to secure said cutter for cutting at different elevations above said first means, and an indicator connected to said adjustable member for indicating the set thereof.

4. A butter cutter comprising means for supporting a body of butter for movement, an upright, a support arranged on said upright for adjustment toward and from said means, a cutter mounted on said support and arranged for horizontal cutting, a vertical series of stops on said upright, each stop being arranged to one side of a vertical line drawn through the next or adjacent stop, and a catch on said support arranged to successively engage said stops, said catch being adjustable to different inclined positions relatively to its path of travel, for the purpose specified.

5. A butter cutter comprising means for supporting a body of butter for movement, an upright, a support slidable on said upright toward and from said means, means for holding said support at different elevations above said first means, a cutter on said support arranged for horizontal cutting, and adjustable means for effecting a variance in the length of the respective adjustments of said support when bodies of butter which vary from a predetermined height are arranged on said first means, whereby bodies of butter of varying heights can be divided into layers, all of the layers of a body being equal in thickness. I

6. A butter cutter comprising means for supporting a body of butter for movement, an upright, a support slidable on said upright toward and from said means, a cutter on said support arranged for horizontal cutting, a vertical series of stops on said upright, ea ch stop being arranged to one side of a ver tical line drawn through the next or adjacent stop, a gage pivoted on said support, an indicator for engagement with the top of the body of butter secured to said gage, means to secure said gage from swinging movement, and a catch mounted on said gage to swing therewith and arranged to successively e11- gage said stops.

7. A butter cutter comprising means for supporting a body of butter, cutter means arranged for producing vertical cuts in the body of butter, one of said means being adjustable so that the cutter means can be operated to produce spaced apart vertical cuts, and means for controlling the movement of the adjustable means connected thereto and moved thereby into engagement with the side of the body of butter.

8. A butter cutter comprising arotatable platform, a cutter movable toward and from the same for producing vertical cuts, means for rotating the platform, and means for limiting the movement of said last means connected therewith and moved thereby into pose specified.

10. A butter cutter comprising a rotary platform, a cutter movable toward and from the same for producing vertical cuts in the body of butter, means for rotating the platform, an arm arranged at the side of the body of butter for movement to and from the same, and means for connecting said arm with said first means so that it will be moved thereby and will limit the movement thereof when moved into engagement with the butter, said arm being adjustable independently of said first means toward and from the body of butter, for the purpose specified.

11. A butter cutter comprising a rotary platform, a support adjustable toward and from the same, a fixed arm on said support projecting over the platform, a cutter frame pivoted at its inner end to said arm for vertical swinging, and cutter means for produc ing vertical and horizontal cuts in the body of butter mounted on said cutter frame.

12. A butter cutter comprising a rotatable platform, a support adjustable toward and from the same, a cutter frame pivoted on said support for movement toward and from the platform, a cutter wire arranged on said frame for vertical and horizontal cutting, and resilient means for raising the cutter frame and holding it above the lower limit of. its movement to permit of the cutter producing a horizontal cut, as specified.

13. A butter cutter comprising a rotary platform, a support adjustable toward and from the same, a cutter frame ivoted on said support for movement towar and from the platform, a cutter wire extending across said frame and arranged for vertical and horizontal cutting, and resilient means holding said frame in position for the cutter wire to produce a horizontal cut.

14. A butter cutter comprising a-rotary latform, a sup ort adjustable toward and from the same, a 'xed arm on said support proj ecting over the platform, a cutter frame arranged on one side of said arm and having its inner end portion pivoted thereto, a cutter wire extending across said frame, a spring on said arm, and a sto on said frame engaging said spring when t e frame is lowered.

15. A butter cutter comprising a rotary platform, a support adjustable toward and from the same, a xed arm on said support projecting over said platform, a cutter frame arranged on one side of said arm and pivoted thereto, a cutter on saidframe, resilient means for limiting the downward movement of said cutter frame, and a clip carried by said frame adapted to engage over said arm, for the purpose specified.

. 16. A butter cutter comprising a platform 'mounted for rotation, means for rotating the same, a cutter movable into the body of butter arranged on the platform, means arranged at the side of the body of butter for engagement therewith and connected to said first means to limit the movement thereof, and clutch means for ositively stopping said first means after said ast means has engaged the butter.

17. In a butter cutter, a platform com-'' posed of upper and lower sections, and lugs carried by one section, said lugs having inclined portions engaged over .the ed e of the other section, for the purpose speci ed.

18. A butter cutter comprising a rotary platform, a handle for intermittently rotating the same, a cutter supported for cutting, means movable into engagement with the side of the body of butter, an indicator lying in the path of the handle and moved by the handle, said indicator being connected with said means, a second indicator spaced from the first named indicator but movable therewith, nreans on the handle for engagement with the last named indicator, and means whereby the last named means will be automatically set out 'of the path of the last named indicator, for the purpose specified.

19. A butter cutter comprising a rotatable platform, a cutter movable toward and from the same for producing vertical cuts, means for rotating the platform, and means for limiting the movement of said means including an element movable into engagement with the side of the body of butter.

20. A butter cutter comprising a base provided with a platform, a standard pivoted to the base for horizontal swinging, and a cutter supported on said standard for movement toward and from the platform.

21. A butter cutter comprising a rotary platform, a cutter movable toward and from the same, a handle for rotating the platform, a plurality of stops, said stops being disposed on op osite sides of the handle, a catch adjustably mounted on said handle for engagement with a stop on one side thereof for limiting the movement of the handle, and a projection on said catch provided with a cam face adapted to engage the stop on the other side of said handle, for the purpose specified.

22. A butter cutter comprising a platform mounted for rotation, means for rotating the same, a cutter arranged above the platform and supported for movement toward and from the same, means supported at the side of the body of butter for movement into contact therewith for regulating the movement of said first means, a member connected for movement with said last means, a fixed rod, a clutch device fixed on said member and having a swingable clutch member slidable on said rod, and means movable with said first means for moving the clutch device and swin ing the clutch member thereof so that it Wi l grip said rod, as specified.

23. A butter cutter comprising a means for sup orting a body of butter for rotation, means for rotating the same, a cutter means movable toward and from said first means for producing vertical cuts, and means actuated by the surface of the body of butter for regulating the extent of movement of said first means.

Signed at Seattle, Washington this 28th 

